State Protocol to produce national flags to ensure uniformity among flags sold on market

The State Protocol Department will soon take charge of the production of the national flag as a measure to ensure uniformity among flags sold on the market.

Even though the state institution was formerly in control of that responsibility, it has stopped due to some challenges. But speaking to The

Mirror, the Deputy Chief State Protocol Officer, Ms Rosemary Agyapong-Pabbi, said the department was exploring the possibility of reintroducing that system.

That, she said, could check the discolouration of the national symbol.

“Formerly, we were sowing flags for all the institutions. We are hoping to bring that system back again. When we do that we will produce the right material, texture and actual colours of the national flag,” she said.

Ms Agyapong-Pabbi was reacting to a report by a columnist of The Mirror on some torn and worn out flags in some parts of the capital.

In the October 5, 2018 edition of The Mirror, Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, reported that national flags on some of the most prominent streets in the capital were not in good shape.

Barely a month afterwards, the paper also followed up and found that some national flags mounted along the Netherlands Embassy towards the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) road, Paloma Area and the Busy Internet stretch to Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange were either worn out or discoloured.

However, on the Liberation Road and other ceremonial streets, the Union Jack had been hoisted in anticipation of the visit of the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, and The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, on November 2, 2019.

As of the time of filing this story, there were no flags on the above-mentioned stretches.

Discolouration of flag

Responding to the discolouration of the flag, Ms Agyapong-Pabbi noted that it was partly due to the shade and texture some people use in designing the flags, but added that efforts were being made for the State Protocol to take full responsibility of supplying the flags to institutions that might need them.

“We advise people to come here to get the right flags since we know and have the original ones,” she said.

Even though she said the flags were changed every three to four weeks, she admitted that there were certain times that they become dirty or worn out due to the weather.

She further explained that there were times that the pulley on flagpoles got rusted, and that resulted in the dirt.

Jurisdictions

Ms Agyapong-Pabbi noted that the State Protocol had its jurisdictions as far as the mounting of flags were concerned.

Even though the department had regional representatives in the regions responsible for hanging of flags in different parts of the country, Ms Agyapong-Pabbi said: “Our jurisdictions in Accra fall within Jubilee Lounge at the Airport, Black Star Square, Forecourt of Parliament House and the Jubilee House.”

She indicated that the AMA was solely responsible for mounting flags on ceremonial streets in the capital city.

Meanwhile, those in front of some schools, hotels and hospitals did not fall under the state protocol or the AMA, but efforts were being made to streamline their activities.

“As State Protocol, we have to portray the nation for visitors to know that they’re in Ghana. No matter the cost involved, national flags are important and critical,” she stated.

‘No unsightly items’

The Head of the AMA Protocol, Mr Abbey Ashie Mensah, told The Mirror that the city authorities did not only clear the city of dirty flags, but also unsightly items while on operations.